Sengun Injured Late in Rockets 112-104 Win Over Kings
Costly Victory. Emergent Third. Slowing Fox.
The Rockets won their season-high third straight game on the road on Sunday night. It came with a hefty cost. Houston’s best player, Alperen Sengun, suffered a brutal ankle injury in the final minute of the game, and had to be carted off the floor in a wheelchair. It was a tough sight for Rockets fans to witness. Sengun will likely miss the remainder of the season due to the injury. To make matters worse, Cam Whitmore also suffered a hamstring injury that will also sideline the rookie for the rest of this campaign.
Houston once again trailed at halftime, but used a dominant third quarter to take control of the game. The Rockets outscored the Kings 32-14 in the third period, and fended off Sacramento in the final frame to earn the victory. Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 22 points and 9 assists.
The key to tonight’s win was Houston’s second-half defense. The Rockets did a tremendous job on De’Aaron Fox, the King’s best player, in the final quarter. Houston held Fox, last season’s Inaugural “Clutch Player of the Year” scoreless in the final period. Up next, the Rockets will aim for their first perfect road-trip of the season as they visit the Alamo City for one final matchup with the Spurs.